We are living in a time of great technological advancement- access to information, entertainment, and connection to others is literally available to us at the click of a button, anytime we want. Social media has been one of the great advancements throughout the last two decades, from MySpace and Facebook to Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. These platforms can have many benefits, like staying in touch with loved ones who live far away, marketing and advertising small businesses, and joining online groups for support and connection.
However, social media can also have profound negative impacts on mental health and well-being, especially for teens, who are using these platforms at an increased prevalence. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 95% of teens ages 13 to 17 report using a social media platform and nearly two thirds report using social media on a daily basis. According to a recent survey, Teens spend an average of 4 hours a day on social media platforms, like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
You may be thinking, “wow that’s a lot of screen time for these adolescents”, or maybe you’re thinking “I probably spend just as much time on social media, if not more, than my child.” Social media is not going away anytime soon, so finding ways to engage with these platforms in a healthy way and guide adolescents to do the same is crucial.
Positive Effects of Teen Social Media Use
Social media is not “all bad.” Let’s start by highlighting some of the positive effects:
- Connection and Community: Social media is a primary way that teens connect with their friends. They may spend time together learning TikTok dances or sending each other funny memes and reels. It’s also a great way for teens to keep in touch with long-distance friends. They may also use social media to find online groups where they can build new friendships and feel a sense of connection and belonging.
- Creative Expression: Social media also allows for creative expression through art, music, comedy, etc. Generating and sharing creative content can be a great way for teens to develop their identity and allow others to see their creative side. Teens may also be inspired by other content creators who share similar interests or ideas.
- Learning and Skill Development: Social media platforms like YouTube have content on countless topics of interest, like DIY projects, arts and crafts, or coding. This can be a great way for your teen to develop their interests and learn new information and skills.
Negative Effects of Teen Social Media Use
Left unchecked or unsupervised, social media use can have many harmful effects for teens:
- Anxiety: According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, teens who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media face double the risk of experiencing mental health problems, such as symptoms of anxiety and depression. Adolescence is a challenging time where teens experience increased social pressure to fit in with their peers, be liked by others, and begin developing their sense of identity. Developmentally, teens are more sensitive to rejection and disapproval by same-aged peers and are more likely to compare themselves to others. Teens using social media often worry about how many “likes” they will get on a post, compare their content to others, and stress over getting just the right photos and captions for their posts.
- Depression/Low Self-esteem: Many social media influencers present their lives in an unrealistic, curated manner. Teens are more susceptible to believing these curated, glamorous profiles represent real life. Consequently, teens have a tendency to post only the good parts of their lives on social media, often showing a falsified version of their lives where they appear glamorous and popular. This can create a large gap between their actual life and the superficial life they show to others. The “image” they create for themselves can lead to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection from others.
- Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is an epidemic amongst teens and is linked to low self-esteem, suicidal ideation, anger, frustation, and difficulties with school. Cyberbullying can encompass spreading rumors, sending threatening messages, sharing embarrassing images, or exclusion from online groups. This kind of bullying happens behind a screen where the perpetrator can remain anonymous and engage in bullying behaviors at any place or time.
- Body Image Issues: Teens are commonly exposed to social media influencers in the realm of diet, fitness, and beauty. These influencers represent an unrealistic and unattainable standard of beauty and body image, as their content is heavily filtered or artificially generated. However, teens are more impressionable to these kinds of posts and are therefore susceptible to comparing themselves to this unrealistic ideal. They may try diets or other methods that are “trending” in the hopes of losing weight. This can contribute to body image and self-esteem issues, as well as maladaptive eating habits.
- Misinformation: Anyone can make a social media account and post whatever they would like, whether the information is true or not. Teens are particularly susceptible to believing what they see on social media, especially if it’s from a “trusted” influencer whom they can relate to. Coming across misinformation as a teen can feel confusing and lead them to believe things about themselves that are not true.
- Addiction and Distraction: I’m sure we have all had the experience of “doom scrolling” where “just one more video” turned into three hours of watching reels. TikTok videos and Instagram reels tend to be an average length of 30 to 60 seconds. Excessive engagement with social media platforms with short, rapidly changing content can make it difficult for teens to sustain their attention for longer periods of time. It is also common for teens to get distracted more easily when there is always something new to view on social media. These factors can contribute to attention challenges in school. Constant social media use can make it harder for a teen to be fully present and engaged when interacting with people in person.
How to Unplug: How to Encourage Healthy Social Media Use
As parents, you have the responsibility to set boundaries and limits related to your teen’s social media use. Helping them unplug from social media frees up time and energy for them to engage in hobbies and activities, enhance their in-person interactions, and be more mindful of the present moment.
- Set Time Limits: Setting limits on time allowed for screens and social media use can be a great way to allow your teen to engage with social media, but in moderation. There are also a variety of parental control apps you can use to set limits on the amount of time your child spends using certain apps. These apps include Qustodio, Net Nanny, and Norton Family. Family Link (by Google) and Apple Screen Time also have built-in features to limit your teen’s screen time and time spent on certain apps.
- Designate “Social Media-Free” Zones: Another way to set boundaries around social media use is designating “social media-free” times. This could be during meal times where every family member places their phone in a basket until dinner is over. Another idea could be only allowing your teen to use social media in open areas of the house, like in the living room or kitchen to deter them from scrolling through social media in the privacy of their bedrooms or creating content in private spaces of the house.
- Monitor Social Media Use: Talk to your teen about what social media apps they are allowed to have and which ones are prohibited. Monitor what your teen is posting on their accounts and talk to them about the importance of respectful online communication. It is also important to monitor who they are following on social media, as many accounts are toxic or inappropriate. Be sure your teen has appropriate privacy settings turned on on their accounts to protect their privacy and identity.
- Engage in Other Activities: Encourage your teen to engage in “offline” activities, like reading, sports, arts and crafts, playing music, or taking a nature walk. These could even be activities you do with them to spend quality time with your teen. You could also suggest they do some of these activities with their friends to increase face to face interactions.
- Digital Detox Periods: Take a break from social media for a set length of time. Experiment with detoxing from social media for an entire weekend or even during a family vacation. Make this an activity the whole family gets involved in so your teen doesn’t feel singled out. This will likely be challenging, especially in the beginning when you and your teen are instinctually reaching for your phones to check social media. This can be a great time to share personal experiences of both the challenges and rewards of trying out a social media detox.
- Model Healthy Social Media Use: It is important to model for your teen how to use social media in a balanced and productive way. This may entail you becoming more aware of your own social media use and finding ways to limit it. For example, instead of scrolling while watching television, model for your teen what it looks like to be fully engaged and present in one activity at a time.
- Practice Open Communication: Talk to your teen about their experiences with social media and share your experiences as well. Ask them how they feel when they are using these apps for long periods of time and help them find ways to unplug and take a break from their phones. Open communication can also entail talking with your teen about how much of the content on social media platforms is likely inauthentic, false, or curated.
Social media can be uplifting, connecting, and positive if used in moderation and with the right knowledge to critically think through the content we are being exposed to. Adolescents are at a developmental stage where they are more impressionable and susceptible to the negative effects of social media use, which can contribute to greater likelihood of mental health problems, like anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and poor concentration. Teens need boundaries, limits, and education about how to use social media in a healthy way. Help your teen accomplish this by encouraging open communication about social media, closely monitoring social media use, and finding ways to unplug from screen time to spend quality face to face time with your teen. Balance and moderation are key to navigating the current digital landscape we live in!
If you or your teen are struggling with finding healthy ways to engage with social media, reach out for help. Our team of mental health professionals at Integrated Care Clinic are specialized in helping teens and their families enhance their mental health and well-being.
Additional Resources:
https://cyberbullying.org/facts
https://news.gallup.com/poll/512576/teens-spend-average-hours-social-media-per-day.aspx
